CN1678996A - Method for providing resources in communication networks - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for providing resources in packet-switched communication networks. Communication components (A, B1 - B6, C1 - C6, D1 - D6) use resources in a network or provide resources in a network to be used by other communication components (A, B1 - B6, C1 - C6, D1 - D6), said resources being provided by software which runs on the communication components (A, B1 - B6, C1 - C6, D1 - D6) and accesses the hardware of the communication components. A service examines the hardware of at least one of the communication components (A, B1 - B6, C1 - C6, D1 - D6) in order to determine whether a resource can be provided by a software on said communication component (A, B1 - B6, C1 - C6, D1 - D6). If the result is positive, the resource-specific software is transmitted to the communication component (A, B1 - B6, C1 - C6, D1 - D6) and provides the resource to be used.

Description

Method for providing resources in communication network

Communications networks, the components of which communicate with one another in a packet-switched manner, are increasingly replacing circuit-switched communications networks. When the Internet Protocol (IP) is used to exchange voice information in data form, such networks are also often referred to as Voice over IP (VoIP for short) networks. In this case, the network can be used either exclusively for the transmission of voice data or mixedly for the transmission of both voice data and other information.

Devices arranged in a communication network and connected to each other are generally referred to as communication components. When such communication components are used as terminals, for example as telephones or multimedia terminals, these components are also referred to as client components. Other components are not used as terminal equipment, but are used to provide services in the communication network. These services can be, for example, gateway functionality, voice mail services, address directories or the like. Such communication components are also called server components. Services and functions provided by server components are often referred to in the literature as resources.

Both client components and server components usually consist of computer hardware (eg PCs) which implement the corresponding functionality by means of corresponding hardware extensions and matching software. Here too, more than one software application can be installed on the computer hardware, so that a single physical component can in principle execute not only client functionality but also server functionality in the network. This communication component is also called client-server (Servent) in the literature, an artificial word derived from the concepts "client" and "server".

The communication components enter into a communication connection with each other by exchanging addressed data packets with each other. In this case, each communication component in the packet-switched network has a network address explicitly assigned to it. In a network that exchanges data according to the Internet Protocol (IP network), these are, for example, IP addresses and IP port numbers. If a communication component is to enter into a communication connection or exchange data with another communication component, the address of the other component must first be known. Addresses are not always assigned to the communication components at a fixed time, but can also be assigned dynamically in the network, so that the communication components can be switched off and on every time, or after predetermined events May have another address respectively. For this reason, in known packet-switched communication networks, at least one network component is equipped with an address directory (address database) of all communication components available in the network. This server component is often called a gatekeeper.

However, a data exchange of the gatekeeper type without a central address database is also known, for example by means of the "Gnutella Protocol Specification V.4" method, with which communication components in the Internet can automatically find additional communication for file exchange components. In this case, the exchange of files and thus data also takes place without the aid of a central server component or "gatekeeper", but directly between the individual components. A network that arranges direct data exchange between communicating components without a superordinate instance is called a peer-to-peer network. A functional communication component including not only a "client" but also a "server" is the "client-server" already mentioned above.

In a peer-to-peer network according to the Gnutella protocol, each communication component (for example a PC) prepares files for exchange with other components. In order to be able to effect the data exchange, the search component requires the address of the component that has the searched file ready for the call. For this purpose it first sends a first search signal, a so-called "ping". The communication module which has received the "ping" search signal replies to the searching communication module with a hit response (Trefferantwort), the so-called "pong". The web address of the corresponding communication component and the number of files provided by this component for exchange are respectively contained in the hit response. In a next step, the searching component sends a second search signal "query" to a limited selection of communication components which have responded to the "ping" search signal with a "pong". The second search signal already contains the file name of the file being searched for. If a component receives the second search signal "inquiry", but the searched file itself is not ready for exchange, it forwards the search signal to another communication component in the network, for example via the The "ping" method has already worked out the addresses of these communication components. However, if the communication component can provide the desired file for exchange, it replies to the second search signal "query" with a hit response "query hit", whereby the searched communication component can be started by means of instructions specified in the Internet Protocol file transfer.

When searching for a file in another communication component, the Gnutella method is used. The search method is terminated exactly once the searched file is found for the first time.

While it is sufficient in a search according to the Gnutella method to find the correct file once, in services (resources) in communication networks it is often important to obtain access to multiple resources of the same type so that they can be accessed when required Choose between. This is often the case, for example, in gateways which make communication links to components in the line-switched communication network available to customer components in the packet-switched network. In this case, the client components of the packet-switched communication network require information relevant to the use of a plurality of resources of this type, since the gateways always support only a limited number of communication connections at the same time, depending on their number of channels. So if a gateway is fully loaded or fails, it must be possible to move to another gateway. For this purpose, a list with a plurality of gateway addresses is stored in the client component or at a central location in the network. When searching for a free, ie not yet fully loaded gateway, the client component sequentially switches through all gateways marked on the list until a gateway with sufficient (remaining) capacity is found. This inventory with resources available in the network is managed from a central location in the network. The manifest is changed when the network layout is changed, or when changes involving available resources are made, and then updated and re-provided for use by client components.

In today's typical packet-switched communication networks, said resources are mostly software applications executed on PC hardware. Here too, multiple resources can be installed on a common PC hardware. Software applications access the installed hardware components of the PC. For example, an ISDN card is used for the communication connection to the line-switched communication network ISDN, a sound card is used for inputting and outputting audio information, etc. Once the PC has the respective hardware components, it can, by installing suitable software, make the desired resources in the network available for use by the other communication components of the communication network.

It has proven to be disadvantageous in known communication networks that resources are not present in the network in the necessary amount. Persistently monitoring the full load of different resource types, additionally installing other resources, and uninstalling excess resources is associated with a high, often manual, workload.

The object of the invention is to optimize the provision of resources in the network and at the same time reduce the workload for managing the network.

The solution to this task is given by the features stated in claim 1 for the method.

The solution of the task provides that the service checks the hardware of at least one of the communication modules, whether a resource can be provided by the software on this communication module, and if the result of the check is positive, the resource is dedicated The software is transferred to the communication component and resources are provided for use. Frequently used types of resources are therefore often duplicated, these newly provided resources using hardware already present in the network, but hitherto unused. The software automatically configures communication components that are not fully loaded so that the spare capacity can be used rationally.

The invention is advantageously further developed by the features of the subclaims.

If the service is installed as software on the communication component to be tested, then the testing of the communication component can be carried out permanently as a background process.

Frequently used resources are increasingly placed in the network in such a way that when resources of a first communication component are used by a second communication component, the service checks whether the second communication component can also be used by the first communication component. The second communication component provides the resource and, in the case of a positive test result, initiates the transfer of the software from the first communication component to the second communication component.

Only resources that are actually used are used to occupy communication components, and resources that are not used often or not at all are deactivated or uninstalled, and reactivated or newly installed when needed again. It can be ensured here that the last instance of the resource present in the network is not unloaded.

By implementing the software transfer according to authorization and/or restrictions, uncontrolled distribution of undesired resources is avoided.

If authorization is given by the user of the communication component that transmits the software and/or the user of the communication component that receives the software, the user makes his own decisions about the manner in which the communication component is used.

The license limits can be observed and the number of resource instances installed can be checked by being limited by a predetermined maximum number of software licenses on the software to be transferred.

If a service formed by software with a first output state is found, the output states are compared when a second, homogeneous service formed by software with a second output state is found, and in the case of a different output state initiates the transfer of software with a newer output state to the communication component of software with an older output state and updates the software with an older output state by means of the transferred software there, the service must only be in the A location in the communication network is updated by a user.

Changes in the layout or use of the communication network lead to timely and automatic resource installation if the check is carried out automatically by the service at regular intervals, and/or at each use of the resource, and/or after manual activation. match.

An exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention for providing resources in a communication network is explained below with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 shows a packet-switched communication network with communication components connected to a circuit-switched communication network, and

Figure 2 shows the communication components of switching resource-specific software in a packet-switched communication network.

FIG. 1 shows communication modules A, B1-B6, C1-C6, D1-D6, which are part of a packet-switched communication network. The connection lines between the communication components exemplarily show the paths through which the various communication components A, B1-B6, C1-C6, D1-D6 can exchange data or data packets with each other. In this case, the data exchange takes place directly between communication modules A, B1-B6, C1-C6, D1-D6, independently of the physical layout of the network (for example, ring, star or arbitrary mesh networking). The communication module A, D1 has (not shown) ISDN cards as special hardware equipment, which implement the communication connection to the line-switched communication network ISDN. Such ISDN cards can be used, for example, to provide so-called gateway functionality as a resource.

Communication component D1 has a resource of gateway type. This resource is formed by proprietary software (hereinafter referred to as gateway software) and the previously explained ISDN card installed in the communication module D1. The ISDN card physically establishes the communication connection to the ISDN line-switched communication network. The ISDN card is controlled by the gateway software for this purpose.

The procedure for using the gateway installed on the communication module D1 by the communication module A is described in FIG. 2 . In this case, the numbers (1) to (9) assigned to the connecting lines and connecting arrows and listed below at the corresponding text positions indicate successive method steps.

The communication component A searches the packet-switched communication network for communication components that can make available a gateway to the line-switched communication network ISDN as a resource. For this purpose, communication module A sends a search signal to its known "adjacent" communication module B4 (1). This search signal contains, in addition to the own website address of communication module A, the information to search for a gateway for a voice communication connection to the line-switched communication network ISDN. The communication module B4 receiving the search signal does not have a suitable resource of the "gateway" type. So the communication component B4 forwards the search signal to its known "adjacent" communication components C1-C6 after expanding its own website (2). Since the communication module C1 is also not able to provide the desired resource of the "gateway" type, it forwards the search signal for its part to the communication modules D1-D6 by adding its own address (3).

Communication component D1 has the desired resource of the "gateway" type and responds to communication component C1 with a hit reply (4). The hit response includes the website address of the communication component D1, as well as the bandwidth, type and number of free channels of the provided gateway. The communication module C1 forwards a hit reply to the communication module B4 (5). Communication component B4 finally transmits a hit reply to the searching communication component A (6).

Communication module A uses the information obtained in this way about the available gateways to establish a direct data communication connection to communication module D1 ( 7 ). If several gateways are found during the search, one of these gateways is selected with the aid of the transmitted information.

A packet-switched communication network is a network operating according to the Internet protocol. This is usually the protocol H.323 for setting up and executing voice communication connections, for example. The communication link explained above between the communication components A and D1 is established by means of the protocol elements present in the H.323 protocol. Alternatively, of course, other protocols can also be used, for example the SIP protocol (Session Initiation Protocol). After the communication connection has been established, it is transmitted from communication module A to communication module D1, where the actual useful data, in this case voice data (8), is transmitted to the subscriber in the circuit-switched communication network ISDN by using a gateway.

After communicating component A now has information about the resource it needs, namely the gateway, provided by communicating component D1 to use, it queries from communicating component D1 with a dedicated query signal information about, in order to run in What hardware prerequisites are required for the gateway software used in the communication component D1. The query is initiated by a service installed on communication module A and persisted in the background. Communications module D1 responds with the statement that an ISDN card with a CAPI driver must be installed (CAPI=common application programming interface—standard application interface for ISDN communication adapters). The service compares the hardware installed on the communication module A or the application interface of the communication module A with these specifications and finds that the hardware of the communication module A also satisfies the requirements for executing the gateway software used on the communication module D1 minimum premise.

Software transfers have the consequence of establishing software backups. The authorization required for this is checked by reading the following information from the authorization file of the communication module D1, which communication modules A, B1-B6, C1-C6, D2-D6 are authorized in principle Used for software transfer. In this case, this is all communication components A, B1-B6, C1-C6, D1-D6 assigned to the same domain. In addition, the number of still free licenses for the gateway software is queried on a license server (not shown) installed as a resource on the communication module B6. A prerequisite for authorization is at least one free license. The number of free licenses is reduced by one after the software transfer. The information for the authorization of the software transfer can be managed by the user via the communication module D1.

After fulfilling not only the technical but also the preconditions of the licensing decision, the service starts the transfer of the gateway software (9) from the communication module D1 to the direction of the communication module A. The transferred gateway software is started, whereby the resource "gateway" is now also made available by communication component A.

The traffic is queried at regular time intervals (once in the day in this example) in other communication modules B1-B6, C1-C6, D1-D6 found in the communication network, in which communication modules B1-B6, C1- Whether the same service is installed on C6, D1-D6. If this is the case, the service obtains an acknowledgment signal from any other communication module B1-B6, C1-C6, D1-D6 having the same service, which acknowledgment signal includes a version number as information about the software output state, the The software forms the services of the other communication components B1-B6, C1-C6, D1-D6 respectively. The service receiving these acknowledgments compares the version number with its own version number. If the business of other communication components B1-B6, C1-C6, D1-D6 has a newer software output status, the business will start to transmit the latest software found in the direction of its own communication component A, and use this to replace its own software. In case the traffic of the further communication components B1-B6, C1-C6, D1-D6 has an older software output state, the traffic is started in the direction of the further communication components B1-B6, C1-C6, D1-D6 Transport your own software, making it a replacement for older software. The gateway software installed on communication component A records every use of the resource. This is achieved by managing a log file. Regularly analyze and process record files through business. If the resource has not been used for a long time (the time limit is one week here), the gateway software is uninstalled through business. The memory location for other installable resources is thus freed again.

Claims (9)

1. be used for having communications component (A, B1-B6, C1-C6, D1-D6) in the communication network, especially in packet-switched communication networks, provide the method for resource, these communications components (A, B1-B6, C1-C6, D1-D6) resource in the use network, and/or these communications components (A, B1-B6, C1-C6, D1-D6) provide resource in the network for use

Wherein, by described communications component (A, B1-B6, C1-C6, D1-D6) software of go up carrying out provide described resource and

Wherein, the described communications component of described softward interview (A, B1-B6, C1-C6, hardware D1-D6),

It is characterized in that,

By business check described communications component (A, B1-B6, C1-C6, the D1-D6) hardware of at least one communications component in, whether can this communications component (A, B1-B6, C1-C6, D1-D6) go up by software provide resource and

Under the situation of sure assay, the software transmission that this resource is proprietary to this communications component (A, B1-B6, C1-C6, D1-D6) on, and provide described resource for use.

2. by the method for claim 1, it is characterized in that (C1-C6 D1-D6) goes up the described business of installation as software for A, B1-B6 at the described communications component that will check.

3. press the method for one of above claim, it is characterized in that, when using the resource of first communications component (D1) by second communication assembly (A), described professional this second communication assembly (A) of check, whether also can provide this resource by this second communication assembly (A), with under the situation of sure assay, start and transmit this software to described second communication assembly (A) from described first communications component (D1).

4. by the method for one of above claim, it is characterized in that, deactivation or unloading seldom, or the software of obsolete resource at all, and when needing again, activate again or newly install.

5. by the method for one of above claim, it is characterized in that, according to authorizing and/or limit the transmission that realizes software.

6. by the method for claim 5, it is characterized in that, the user of the communications component (D1) by transmitting described software, and/or the user who receives the communications component (A) of described software provides described mandate.

7. by the method for claim 5 or 6, it is characterized in that the maximum quantity given in advance by software license on the described software that will transmit provides described restriction.

8. press the method for one of above claim, it is characterized in that, by the formed business of the software with first output state, when finding by similar professional of the software with second output state formed second, described output state is compared, and under the different situation of output state, startup is to described communications component (A with software of older output state, B1-B6, C1-C6, D1-D6) the described software of transmission with new output state, and the software that passes through to be transmitted there upgrades described software with older output state.

9. by the method for one of above claim, it is characterized in that, by described business automatically with time interval of rule and/or each when using resource and/or after manually activating, realizing described check.

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